Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-06-04
THE NOBLE RED MAN.
MRS. A. 5. QUNT0N TALKS INTERESTINGLY
ABOUT HIS WRONGS.
4 Branch Of the Woman's National Indian ASsocia-
ton Formed, Yesterday, aud
Officers Elected.

According to the announcement yeS'er-
day morning Mrs. A. 5. Qmnton, fteSi
don't of the Women's National Indian As
eoci.,tion addressed an enthusiastic meet
ing of ladies at the Fourth Street NJ. L.
Church yesterday afternoon. Inc purpose
Gor which the meeting was called was to
Law before the meeting the object and work
Of the Association, with view to etfecting
a State organization.
Mrs. QuintOn is pleasant talker, has
brisk manner and rapid delivery, and pos
sesses n thorough understanding of her
work in which she is enthusiastic. The
Indian and his wrongs was her theme, and
she spoke of the work in which the ASso-
ciotion is engaged as one not without hope
and of not very long duration. Much has
already been done, and much more may he
ACCOMPLISHED within Il reasonable time by
the patient and earnest efforts OF those who
are interested in the Indian and his fate.
Mrs. Quinton placed before the audience u
map of the United States, upon which the
various reservations were marked III black,
and with the aid of the map gave rapid,
succinct sketch of the situation, the work
already done, and that which remains.
She told very pathetic story OF the
DIsCOUEAGEMENT, THE OPPRESSION
suffered bv the various tribes through the
brutality of soldiers and agents, and the
frequent enforced removals from place to
place bv the Government. She said: "EX-
elusive of the Indians of Alaska, there are
now within the limits of the United States
between 26O, 600 and 265, 600 Indians. Most
of them are gathered upon reservations,
sixty in number, and are under the control
of Government agents, whose power can
be, and too often is, deSpOtlc, and from
whose authority there is practically no APP
peal. Virtually there is no law Tor the red
man. He cannot make contracts, work his
own mines, nor sell his own lumber. 1t
is not in law crime to kill IN Indian, and
attempts have been made in vain to bring
his murdcrers to Justice" The speaker
told in this connection the story OF two
Indian children who were playlully shot
by two hunters, to exhibit their clever
craftsmanship, and declared it to he no
isolated case, but one which represented u
class of events of daily occurrence.
IN REGARD TO CIVILIZATION,
Mrs. OuintOn said: "rhcSc Indian tribes
are of every grade. from the Squalid Dig
yer of California 10 the cultured Cherokees
of the Indian Territory. The problem,
therefore, varies with the condition. The
statistics of their civilization and progress
are surprising considering their diSahlli-
ties, expressions and practical poverty.
Only 9.3ll Of those outside of the five CIV
iliZed tribes are in Government schools,
and vet 10000 of them speak English;
llO. 900 wear the clothing of civilization,
and ~, OOO live in houses.
"HeSidcS the agriculture of the five
tribes before named. Indians have more
than 2ls, 600 acres of land under cultiva-
ton. and Of the -, 600 Indians in the
Southwest, outside the Indian Territory,
only 5000 are fed by the Government;
1870. OOO are Sclf-suppOrting. There Is a
widespread belief that
THE INDIAN Is LAZY,
that he will not work; but this is not the
case. Wherever they have been encouraged
they have worked faithfully. \ striking
illustration of their willingness 10 work
was shown in Gen. Crooks successful
management Ol the five hundred ChlrlCa.
huas, who, after he had Subducd them,
and niven them leave To till the land, dur
ing good behavior, went peacefully to
work, plowcd the land with sticks and
reapcd their grain with common knives.
In this manner they raised $50, 600
worth of produce the first year OF the
experiment. Nor are Indians paupers in
equity, though kept in poverty by their
rich debtor. The Government owes the
Indians $50, 600, 600, and this for value re.
ccived, and if the whole debt were paiu,
with interest, there would he enough to
civlliZe them all, and enable tn, III to begin
life upon basis
OF CIVILIZED COMFORT.
There is a growing desire TO adopt the
habits of civilization, and it has been
shown that with even their present intel
ligence, they would use well the money
due them. Most persons believe that the
Indian is stolid and untceling. Indians
are just like other people. Some of the
best Christians have ever seen are Indian
women. They are the tenderest of
mothers They are only silent and dis
tant with strangers. Toward those whom
they know and trust they are contiding,
tender and yielding. Whatever the suffer
ing that Expresses them, 1t falls heaviest
upon the woman, and II is this fact that
makes the Indian question peculiarly Il
i ~ Question Tho OF amman L.
to all Christian women everywhere
The lady also referred to the National
Indian Association, which has the sanction
of the Government, and which is repre-
scented in thirty-one States, and hoped that
the ladies of West Virginia were willing to
join in the work, and briefly mapped out
the work to he done by such an organiza-
ton. Her remarks We're very interesting
and instructive and gave the hearers Il
clear idea of the condition of the Indian
tribes.
ORGANIZATION EFFECTED.
| The result of the meeting was an Organi-
cation under the name of the West Vir-
ginia WOmcn's Indian Association" the
following officers being elected
! PreSident-NIrs 4. j. Clarke.
Vice President--Mrs. DR.. d. A. Cum
ningham.
Second Vice President-Mrs. w. J. w.
Cowden.
Secretary-MiSs Cook Wilson.
Corresponding Secretary-Miss Min Bon
ham.
The wives of all the ministers of all the
different denominations in the city were
also elected Vice Presidents A time was
set for another meeting, when the mem
berS will appoint committees and transact
other business incident upon pertectiug
the organization.
TRY our Ladies' Genuine Hand-Sewed
Shoes for $500. worth $500.
Jos. HhSENAUER.